HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-03-SC-min
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Dr. Paul B. Ash, Superintendent; Mary Ann Stewart, School Committee Chair;
Alessandro Alessandrini, Vice-Chair; School Committee Members Bonnie
Brodner, Margaret Coppe, and Jessie Steigerwald, and Noah Coolidge, Student
Representative
The minutes were taken by Jean Curran.
The meeting was convened at 7:35 p.m.
I. Call to Order and Welcome
The Chair called the meeting to order and invited Public Comment. There were no public
comments.
II. Superintendent’s Announcements
Dr. Paul B. Ash had no announcements.
III. Members’ Reports/Members’ Concerns
Jessie Steigerwald congratulated the high school girls' basketball team on their Friday night
game. She noted that it was a great game and that the school had provided the opportunity for
the girls to play at a special time to promote equality in team schedules, and that there would be
additional Friday night games.
Margaret Coppe agreed and said she felt that this was an issue of equality.
Mary Ann Stewart proposed that with the Presidential Primary scheduled on Tuesday,
March 6, 2012, the same night the School Committee is scheduled to meet that the
Committee cancel the meeting that evening, and instead hold meetings on February 28th
and March 13th. The 2012 Annual Town Meeting begins March 26th..
IV. 1. Superintendent’s FY13 Recommended Budget
Dr. Ash presented the Fiscal Year 2013 Recommended Budget. He thanked Mary Ellen
Dunn, Assistant Superintendant for Finance and Business, for her work preparing the
budget book. He also recognized all the principals for their work preparing their school’s
budget. Dr. Ash explained Lexington Public School’s (LPS) vision and mission. The
budget overview included LPS Budget Guidelines, Level-Service Budget, major budget
drivers and highlights, cost of reducing fees, fiscal year 2010 comparison per pupil costs
and the Fiscal Year 2013 Recommended Budget. The full budget will be online in a few
days; there is a hard copy available in the library and in his office for anyone interested in
reviewing it. Len Swanton, K-12 Professional Development Coordinator spoke about a
pilot program where interventionists work with teachers at the Bowman Elementary
School this year and then to the Bridge Elementary School. There were no additional
monies needed to fund this effort. He also spoke about the Pilot 6-8th Grades Mega Math
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Program at the Diamond Middle School and would like to see it expanded to the Clarke
Middle School, as well as the launch of the Diamond Middle School Intensive Learning
Program (ILP) for students on the autism spectrum. Dr. Ash presented three possible
reductions in fees: (i) reduced fees for busing at the Estabrook Elementary School, (ii)
elimination of the music fee at the elementary school level, (iii) and the elimination of the
full-day kindergarten program fee. There were questions and comments from the
Committee
Andrei Radulescu-Banu (86 Cedar Street) shared his views on instructional time,
foreign language, and MCAS preparation.
Dawn McKenna (9 Hancock Street) had comments regarding elementary foreign
language, full-day kindergarten, the debate program, and bus fees. She also wanted to
know when Public Hearings on this budget would be scheduled.
The Chair responded that official hearings on the budget were scheduled for Tuesday,
January 31st at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 4th at 10:00 a.m. Locations will be
announced. The Committee will vote on the budget at the School Committee meeting on
February 14, 2012.
2. Three Year Technology Plan
Thomas Plati, Director of Educational Technology and Assessment presented a Three-
Year Technology Plan. He recognized and thanked Marianne McKenna, Director of
Technology, Anne Tenhor, Integrational IT/Network/Technical Operations Specialist,
Elizabeth Peterson, Integrational IT/Network/Technical Operations Specialist and
Edward Davey, Social Studies Teacher at Clark Middle School, Howard Wolke,
Instructional Technology Diamond Middle School, Margaret Keeler, Technology
Technician at the High School and Mary Pappas, TV Production Teacher at the High
School, as well as 70 curriculum leaders, building administrators, and administrators for
all their hard work. His presentation included the use of technology and the interactive
nature of the technology with students, along with the different types of hardware being
used in classrooms, such as e-books, clickers, and tablet technology (iPads, iPods and
Kindles). He noted that the use of iPads with special education students were proven
most effective. There were comments and questions from the Committee.
Messrs. Davey and Wolke spoke of how they both worked with iPads, apps, and content
to students. The technology is fast moving and the students really want to use them.
These tools are being used every day in the school system.
Betsy Peterson spoke about her work using smart tables and the different ways a small
group is looking into sharing this technology through multiple classrooms and other ways
it may be deployed.
Betsy Sarles, Estabrook PTA Co-President, had comments related to technology in the
elementary schools.
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There were questions and comments from the Committee.
3. Vote to approve a motion that the Town Manager be authorized to execute a
contract with a construction manager at risk contractor for construction of
the new Estabrook Elementary School.
Pat Goddard, Director of Facilities requested the Committee to authorize the Town
Manager to execute a contract with a construction manager at risk contractor and
presented the benefits of going forward with a CM at Risk for the construction of the new
Estabrook Elementary School.
Motion to Approve a Motion that the Town Manager be authorized to
execute a contract with a construction manager at risk contractor, in
accordance with plans and procedures to effectively manage and ensure
competitive fairness, evaluation and reporting in the procurement of such
contract, subject to the recommendation of the Permanent Building
Committee, for construction of the new Estabrook Elementary School in
accordance with the preliminary schematic design identified as Option 3C in
a letter dated December 6, 2011 from Donna DiNisco of DiNisco Design
Partnership to Superintendent Paul Ash. (Steigerwald, Alessandrini) Motion
was approved (5-0).
4. Recommended 2012-2013 System Goals
A. Carol A. Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction,
and Professional Development presented curriculum goals proposed for 2012-2013. Len
Swanton, Professional Development Coordinator, discussed the district’s professional
development goals and how they are tied to student achievement. There were questions
and comments from the Committee.
B. Linda Chase, Director of Student Services presented three goals for
special education, pro-social behavior, and guidance. There were questions and
comments from the Committee.
Andrei Radulesco-Banu (86 Cedar Street), had questions regarding State guidelines.
C. Robert J. Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources,
presented a staff Wellness Goal. The proposed wellness program would include health
education, health changes and fitness programs. If approved, the planning would begin
with a steering committee this February 2012, There were no questions or comments
from the Committee.
5. School Committee Minutes
Draft minutes of December 20, 2011 were reviewed by the Committee.
Motion to Approve School Committee Minutes of December 20, 2011.
(Steigerwald, Brodner) The Motion was approved (5-0).
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6. Adjourn,
Motion to adjourn the meeting of the Lexington School Committee (Steigerwald,
Coppe). The Motion to adjourn was approved (5-0).
The meeting adjourned at 11:02 P.M.
Documents: Meeting Agenda; Fiscal Year 2013 Superintendent’s Budget; PowerPoint
Presentation Slides of Superintendent’s Fiscal Year 2012 Level-Service and Recommended
Budgets Overview; Lexington Public Schools Technology Plan 2012-2015; Curriculum and
Professional Development 2012-2013; PowerPoint Presentation Slides of Lexington Public
Schools Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development Overview; Curriculum of
Student Services; District Technology Goals; Human Resources 2012-2013 Wellness Goals;
M.G.L. ch. 149A Part B. Awarding Authority Capacity Information Section 14 and Motion for
CM at Risk; Draft School Committee Meeting Minutes dated December 20, 2011.
Voted by the School Committee January 31, 2012